Moving into a small cottage raises one big question: where will everything go? Here is how closets, pantry, laundry and seasonal gear fit into the plan.

A backyard cottage kitchen has to hold appliances, plumbing and storage in very little space. Here is how the three common compact layouts compare.

A backyard cottage sits close to the main house and the neighbors. Here is how room placement, windows, sound control and entries give each household its own space.

A compact cottage can feel roomy or cramped at the same square footage. Here is how circulation, kitchen placement, storage and light make the difference.

Paint and fixtures are easy to change in a ready-made cottage plan. Walls, windows and plumbing are not. Here is how to tell a cosmetic change from a redesign.

A cottage floor plan holds more than room shapes. Here is how to read scale, dimensions, door swings, windows and stairs so you can compare designs with confidence.

One level means no stairs, while two levels save yard space. Here is how the choice plays out on access, lot coverage, privacy and construction in Seattle.

Seattle lets a cottage with three or more bedrooms reach 1,200 square feet. Here is when that layout fits a household and what it asks of the plan and the lot.